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The Accidental Soldier

The hilarious, must-listen account of serving in Iraq - as recommended by Marina Hyde on THE REST IS ENTERTAINMENT

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The Accidental Soldier

By: Owain Mulligan
Narrated by: Owain Mulligan
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Summary

 A Times Best Audiobook of the Year 2025

Listeners are LOVING The Accidental Soldier:

'One of the funniest books you will ever read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I've spent 15 years waiting for a book which entertainingly brings to life the humour, mundanity & absurdity of serving in Iraq . . . Thankfully this is that book and it is excellent' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Absolutely brilliant from start to finish . . . Just when you feel the situation is about to drop off a cliff (again!), Mulligan turns it around with a jab of wit as amusing yet as honest as the chance of surviving in a Snatch Land Rover in Basra.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Accidental Soldier is a searingly honest and darkly funny account of what it was really like being in the British Army in Iraq (including all the bits they probably hoped you'd never find out). We share all the hardships, fears, and occasional lunacy of military life as Owain and his men try to navigate a war gone badly wrong. One thing's for sure; you'll never look at the phrase 'military precision' in quite the same way again...

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'This book is absolutely incredible. It made me laugh more than any book in so many years. I found the writing just so unbelievably brilliant and hilarious and affecting . . . I am crazy about it!' - Marina Hyde

'I loved it . . . relentlessly funny and really well written' - John Oliver

'Authentic and compulsive' - Richard E. Grant

'A fascinating insight into the often farcical chaos and catastrophe of war. Reads like a non-fiction Catch-22. Compelling, enlightening and bleakly funny. A jaw-dropping read.' - Matt Haig

'An instant classic - a deeply funny and mordant book about war.' - Richard Curtis

The Accidental Soldier is brilliant. It's hilarious. It's laugh-out-loud funny. A confident 11/10.' -The Wavell Room podcast

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100% of the author's royalty earnings (expected to be at least £20,000) from sales of the book in the UK & Commonwealth will be given to War Child (a registered charity, charity number 1071659) and its wholly owned subsidiary War Child Trading Limited (a registered company, company number 05100189).

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The Accidental Soldier published as an instant Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller in the w/c 2025-04-14.©2025 Owain Mulligan Afghan & Iraq Wars Military Military & War Funny Witty Middle East Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking War Solider

Critic reviews

This book is absolutely incredible. It made me laugh more than any book in so many years. I found the writing just so unbelievably brilliant and hilarious and affecting. I realised it was brilliant within three or four pages. I am crazy about it as you can see!
I loved it . . . relentlessly funny and really well written
Authentic and compulsive
A fascinating insight into the often farcical chaos and catastrophe of war. Reads like a non-fiction Catch-22. Compelling, enlightening and bleakly funny. A jaw-dropping read.
An instant classic - a deeply funny and mordant book about war.
In a time of global conflict, The Accidental Soldier catapults you into the heart of active duty. Terrifying, exhilarating, life-shattering and profoundly sobering, Mulligan takes you through the clumsy brutality and "raging bin-fire" of war, witnessing the quiet heroism of its foot soldiers. This book is a fitting and vital memorial to all those lost. I could not put it down. (Abi Morgan)
All stars
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i finshed the book in 3 days laid on a sunbed in Egypt. i found myself lauging out loud and getting a nudge by my partner. its a good insight to a "normal persons" side of the story

brilliant

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A very well written and smart book, enjoyed every minute. Hope he writes about the other tours too

Great listen

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I listened to this over the course of 2 days. I can't stop thinking about it. An incredible, insightful, thought -provoking account of one young officer's Iraq tour, which is, at times, both hilarious and utterly heartbreaking. The emotion in the author/narrator's voice as he read the epilogue had me in pieces. Utterly superb.

Heartrending, horrifying, hilarious & brutally honest

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Fantastic book most definitely worth the time, enjoyable, funny and educational
Well read by the author and so good I wrote a review. Thanks for the story.

Unexpected education

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This is an outstanding book, a real insight into the disaster of the war in Iraq. Also a superb example of British Army dark humour. I don’t think I have ever laughed so much, and a most moving epilogue.

Very funny and moving at the same time

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